Suruli Rajan
Suruli Rajan was a Tamil film comedian/character artiste. He was a recipient of Tamil Nadu State Government's Best Comedian Award for the year 1981–82.
Suruli Rajan | |
|---|---|
| Born | Sankaralingam Ponnaiya Pillai 14 January 1938 |
| Died | 5 December 1980 (aged 42) |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Occupation | Actor, comedian, singer |
| Years active | 1965–1980 |
| Spouse(s) | Muthulakshmi |
| Children | Shanmugavel, Kumaravel, Senthilvel |
Biography
Suruli Rajan was born in 1938 in Periyakulam, near Theni. His father Ponnaiya Pillai worked as an accountant for farm owners of the adjoining areas in Theni. The child was named after the Surulivelar Swamy, the family deity at the temple atop a hill graced by the picturesque Suruli Falls.
Suruli Rajan lost his parents one after the other, and had to discontinue his schooling. He moved to his brother's house in Madurai and worked as an apprentice mechanic in a neighbourhood workshop.[1] Bitten by the acting bug, he acted in several amateur stage plays in Madurai before moving to Madras in 1959 in search of greener pastures.
In spite of his passion for acting opportunities were few and far between. A sudden spate of opportunities in stage plays filled him with heartening optimism. He worked with various drama troupes, including those of O. A. K. Thevar, Pisir Ramarao, T.N. Balu and in Karunanidhi's 'kagithapoo' staged in aid of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam party's election fund. It was filmmaker Joseph Thaliath Jr. of The Citadel Film Corporation Pvt. Ltd who brought Suruli Rajan to cinema, first in a brief appearance in Iravum Pagalum in 1965 and soon after in a more noticeable comic role in Kathal Paduthum Padu the year following.
His friendship with T.N. Balu earned him memorable roles in blockbusters by T.R.Ramanna like Naan and Moondrezhuthu. Despite his young age Suruli Rajan was offered older roles in many of his early movies. Two other significant roles in his early years were the Madras Tamil spewing cameo in APN's Thirumalai Thenkumari (1970) and that of the devout fisherman in Aathi Parasakthi (1971). With his unique intonation and a flair for the absurd, Surulirajan rose to popularity in the late 70s.
Though at times bordering on the bawdy, he seldom failed to elicit a laugh. Suruli's brilliant portrayal of a niggardly rustic in M.A.Khaja's Maanthoppu Kiliye (1979) fetched him rare plaudits and has earned a place of pride in the annals of the immortal comedy sequences of Tamil cinema. 'It never rains, but pours' they say, and Suruli's capers had become a mandatory inclusion in most movies of the time. He created a record by acting in not less than 50 movies in a single year in 1980.
His career was cut short due to his untimely death in 1980 while he was in the peak of his career.[2]
Filmography
| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1965 | Enga Veettu Pillai | Servant | Credited as surali |
| 1965 | Iravum Pagalum | Debut | |
| 1966 | Andru Kanda Mugam | Constable | |
| 1966 | Kathal Paduthum Padu | ||
| 1967 | Uyir Mel Asai | ||
| 1968 | Thaer Thiruvizha | ||
| 1968 | Delhi Mapillai | Chopra | |
| 1969 | Naangu Killadigal | Baba | |
| 1970 | Thirumalai Thenkumari | Mannaru | |
| 1971 | Kankatchi | ||
| 1972 | Kurathi Magan | ||
| 1973 | Thirumalai Deivam | Rangen | |
| Rajapart Rangadurai | Palani | ||
| 1974 | Anbu Thangai | ||
| 1975 | Aayirathil Oruthi | Sivakolunthu | |
| 1976 | Akka | ||
| Badrakali | |||
| Inspector Manaivi | |||
| Janaki Sabatham | |||
| Kumara Vijayam | |||
| Madhana Maaligai | |||
| Mayor Meenakshi | |||
| Mittai Mummi | |||
| Nee Indri Naan Illai | |||
| Ore Thanthai | |||
| Rojavin Raja | |||
| Thunive Thunai | |||
| Ungalil Oruthi | |||
| Uravaadum Nenjam | |||
| Vazhvu En Pakkam | |||
| 1977 | Aattukkara Alamelu | ||
| Annan Oru Koyil | |||
| Deepam | |||
| Durga Devi | |||
| Gasslight Mangamma | |||
| Ilaya Thalaimurai | |||
| Madhura Geetham | |||
| Munnooru Naal | |||
| Nee Vazha Vendum | |||
| Odi Vilayadu Thatha | |||
| Oli Mayamana Ethirkalam | |||
| Oruvanukku Oruthi | |||
| Palabhishekam | |||
| Bhuvana Oru Kelvikuri | |||
| Perumaikuriyaval | |||
| Raasi Nalla Raasi | |||
| Sonnathai Seiven | |||
| Sonthamadi Nee Enakku | |||
| Thoondil Meen | |||
| Aarupushpangal | Kandhasamy | ||
| 1978 | Aayiram Jenmangal | ||
| Shankar Salim Simon | Kabali | ||
| Aghni Pravesam | |||
| Anna Lakshmi | |||
| Athaivida Rahasiyam | |||
| Aval Thantha Uravu | |||
| Bairavi | |||
| Chittu Kuruvi | |||
| Ival Oru Seethai | |||
| Kannamoochi | |||
| Kannan Oru Kai Kuzhandai | |||
| Karate Kamala | |||
| Machanai Patheengala | |||
| Makkal Kural | |||
| Manitharil Ithanai Nirangala | |||
| Meenatshi Kunkumam | |||
| Mela Thalangal | |||
| Oru Veedu Oru Ulagam | |||
| Panchamurtham | |||
| Pavathin Sambalam | |||
| Rajavukku Etha Rani | |||
| Rudra Thandavam | |||
| Sakkaipodu Podu Raja | |||
| Sonnadhu Needhana | |||
| Taxi Driver | |||
| Thai Meethu Sathiyam | |||
| Thirukkalyanam | |||
| Thirupura Sundari | |||
| Unakkum Vaazhvu Varum | |||
| En Kelvikku Enna Bathil | |||
| 1979 | Annai Oru Alayam | ||
| Appothey Sonneyney Keetiya | |||
| Dharma Yuddham | |||
| Ennadi Meenakshi | |||
| Kadavul Amaitha Medai | |||
| Kamasasthiram | |||
| Kizhakkum Merkkum Santhikkindrana | |||
| Lakshmi | |||
| Manthoppu Kiliye | |||
| Mudal Iravu | |||
| Mugathil Mugam Parkalam | |||
| Naanoru Kai Paarkiren | |||
| Nangooram | |||
| Neechal Kulam | |||
| Needhikkumun Neeya Naana | |||
| Neeya? | |||
| Oru Vidukathai Oru Thodardathai | |||
| Paathai Maarinal | |||
| Pagalil Oru Iravu | |||
| Pancha Bootham | |||
| Poonthalir | |||
| Raja Rajeswari | |||
| Siri Siri Maamaa | |||
| Sithira Chevvanam | |||
| Sri Ramajayam | |||
| Thayillamal Naanillai | |||
| Veettukku Veedu Vasappadi | |||
| Yaarukku Yaar Kaval | |||
| 1980 | Anbukku Naan Adimai | ||
| Antharangam Oomayanathu | |||
| Azhaitthal Varuven | |||
| Bambai Mail 109 | |||
| Deiveega Rahangal | |||
| Doorathu Idi Muzhakkam | Neelakandam | ||
| Edhir Veettu Jannal | |||
| Ellam Un Kairasi | |||
| Enga Vathiyar | |||
| Enga Vathiyar | |||
| Geetha Oru Shenbaga Poo | |||
| Johnny | |||
| Kaadu | |||
| Kaali | |||
| Kadhal Kadhal Kadhal | |||
| Kalam Bathil Sollum | |||
| Karadi | |||
| Karumbu Vill | |||
| Kathal Kiligal | |||
| Kumarip Pennin Ulathile | |||
| Kuruvik Koodu | |||
| Malargindra Paruvathile | |||
| Meenakshi | |||
| Megathukkum Thagamundu | |||
| Murattuk Kalai | |||
| Muzhu Nilavu | |||
| Naan Potta Saval | |||
| Neer Nilam Neruppu | |||
| Oli Pirandhadhu | |||
| Ore Mutham | |||
| Oru Marathu Paravaigal | |||
| Panam Penn Pasam | |||
| Paruvathin Vasalile | |||
| Pennukku Yaar Kaaval | |||
| Pollathavan | |||
| Ponnagaram | |||
| Porkalam | |||
| Pudiya Thoranangal | |||
| Rishi Moolam | |||
| Rusi Kanda Poonai | |||
| Saranam Iyyappa | |||
| Thani Maram | |||
| Theru Vilakku | |||
| Ullasa Paravaigal | |||
| Valli Mayil | |||
| Vandichakkaram | |||
| Veli Thandiya Velladu | |||
| 1981 | Meendum Kokila | Film Director | |
| Aadugal Nanaigindrana | |||
| Anichamalar | |||
| Kadavulin Theerpu | |||
| Engamma Maharani | |||
| Kannadi | |||
| Kanni Mahamayi | |||
| Kazhugu | |||
| Lorry Driver Rajakkannu | |||
| Oru Iravu Oru Paarvai | |||
| Pennin Vaazhkkai | |||
| Pennmanam Pesugirathu | |||
| Ram Lakshman | |||
| Sankarlal | |||
| Satya Sundaram | |||
| Vadagai Veedu | |||
| Vasanthakalam | |||
| 1982 | Aval Yetriya Dheebangal | ||
| Hitler Umanath | |||
| Iniyavale Vaa | |||
| Irattai Manithan | |||
| Muraiponnu | |||
| Nayakarin Magal | |||
| Nirandharam | |||
| Oorukku Oru Pillai | |||
| Pannaiburathu Pandavargal | |||
| Sangili | |||
| 1983 | Avaloru Kaviyam | ||
| Kashmir Kadhali | |||
| Oppandham | |||
| Samsaram Enbathu Veenai | |||
| 1984 | Pillayar |
References
External links
- Suruli Rajan at IMDb